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A Novel Non-Stationary Multipath Fading Channel Model Based on Propagation Measurements Using SDR and FPGA

Martin Tomis1, Radek Martinek2, Petr Koudelka1, Libor Michalek1, Marek Dvorsky 1, Radana Kahankova2, Jan Zidek2
1. Department of Telecommunications, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava 70833, Czech Republic
2. Department of Cybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava 70833, Czech Republic

Abstract—Non-stationary multipath fading channel models are necessary for the design and optimization of communications systems (the 5th generation mobile networks - 5G, the (Industrial) Internet of Things, etc.). These models are considered as essential components of channel simulators which are similar to physical radio channels. This article describes a progressive novel method of adaptive non-stationary multipath fading channel models based on a real measurement of Channel Impulse Response (CIR). The designed system measures, classifies and subsequently adaptively changes the parameters of a transmission channel model. The proposed concept is based on the Software Defined Radio (SDR) and Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) which are implemented on the modular platform of PCI Extensions for Instrumentation (PXI). This approach enables to approximate and subsequently adaptively model any transmission environment. Thanks to the application of the adaptive parameter setting approach we can create unique dynamic models of real transmission channels which can be used for designing, testing and optimizing new trends in the field of wireless communications systems (new modulation formats, algorithm testing, channel equalization, optimization of source and channel coding, guard interval adaptation, etc.).
 
Index Terms—Multipath Fading, Channel Model, CIR - Channel Impulse Response, SDR - Software Defined Radio, PCI Extensions for Instrumentation, FPGA - Field Programmable Gate Array, ISI Inter-Symbol Interference.
 
Cite: Martin Tomis, Radek Martinek, Petr Koudelka, Libor Michalek, Marek Dvorsky, Radana Kahankova, and Jan Zidek, "A Novel Non-Stationary Multipath Fading Channel Model Based on Propagation Measurements Using SDR and FPGA," Journal of Communications, vol. 12, no. 12, pp.  683-688, 2017. Doi: 10.12720/jcm.12.12.683-688.